LoHud: Abraham: Should the Moose make the Hall?

More importantly…should Abraham base his HOF vote on what Johnny Damon says and “that wins and losses matter” (among other things, natch)?

As for me, I don’t have a vote yet. But I will when he comes up for election in five years and I will vote for him.

I was on the borderline until a few months ago until a conversation with Johnny Damon convinced me. Johnny brought up the point that Mussina spent his entire career in the American League East and faced eight teams that won the World Series (Blue Jays 1992-93, Yankees ‘96, 1998-2000, Red Sox 2004, ‘07).

...A “win” is not necessarily a telling stat in a particular game. A pitcher can get rocked and get a win. Just as a “loss” often doesn’t indicate much beyond the score of the game.

But over the course of time, I do believe that wins and losses matter. Going 270-153 is indicative of durability and success. A starting pitcher can’t be 117 games over .500 by accident. Over that many games, the undeserved wins and undeserved losses balance out.

Mussina is one of 25 pitchers to have won 270 games since 1900. Only five – Lefty Grove, Christy Mathewson, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander – have a higher winning percentage than Mussina’s .638. That’s not company you can ignore.

There are many old-school writers who say Mussina never won the Cy Young, never won the World Series and won 20 games only once. Or they will focus on his falling short of 300 wins. That is weak reasoning.